EA 3.2L future (or current) classic?

pigglesworth · 07-05-2015, 02:04 AM

Saw this on gumtree today http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/hamil...-2l/1077903581
From what I hear they only saved you money on fuel compared to the 3.9L because you never wanted to drive it anywhere.

Still, can't be too many of those slugs around these days in that condition.
Almost worth buying as a collector's item - they probably have some value some day soon simply due to rarity.

But what was Ford thinking?! Couldn't have been any cheaper to produce than the 3.9

NX74205 · 07-05-2015, 03:14 AM

Ah, brings back memories of the stock standard white EA Falcon GL I used to own, but mine was a 3.9. As for the 'what was Ford thinking' comment, I presume it'd be along the same reasons as that for offering a 3.3 six and a 4.1 six for the previous generation.

You're right, the 3.2 was rare, but I don't think it'll appreciate in value anytime soon (if at all). The sole reason for buying one would be to keep it or use it as (very) cheap transport. EA odometers do stop working from time to time too, so I wonder if this car has 94,000 genuine kms.

LTDHO · 07-05-2015, 07:36 AM

Rare? Perhaps.
Market for it? Nope
Value? Next to nothing.

HULK_I6T · 07-05-2015, 08:16 AM

Dont touch it.

They were actually more expensive to run than the 3.9 as you needed to thrash it to get it moving.

Truth be told it was a mistake by ford. Dont be holding the bag on that one. Walk away from it.

XR Martin · 07-05-2015, 11:01 AM

They only made 800 or so of them and stopped making them after 1988.

Will never be more valuable than a 3.3 XF.

malazn mafia · 07-05-2015, 03:17 PM

Werent some people destroking xr6 turbos to 3.2L and making ridiculous power, something like 2000hp? The prices were obscene though.

xr6tjet · 07-05-2015, 03:26 PM

Destroked to make higher RPMs - quicker down the quarter. Someone boost this thing haha :P

flooded one · 07-05-2015, 09:42 PM

collectible for rarity but not worth much. I think $1200 fair for it. might be worth more in 10-15 years time?? More so for it being an EA rather then having the 3.2L motor

buddha · 07-05-2015, 09:57 PM

If my memory serves me correctly, I think the most valuable 3.2 would be in a Ford USA show car in the very early 90's. Ford was showing a concept that had the engine mounted transversely, but took drive from the centre of the crank, allowing FWD, RWD or AWD drivetrains on a modular platform. Some quick Googling brought up "T-Drive", but I can't find any photos of that particular car. I am 99.9% sure that the show car's engine started life as an EA 3.2, and that if someone has copies of Wheels magazines around that time, there will be mention of it there.

XR Martin · 07-05-2015, 10:27 PM

If it was near me id buy it and put it in the shed and just drag it out every so often for the odd Ford show.
Granted its nothing special but still a piece of local Ford history.

XR6WGN · 08-05-2015, 12:48 AM

Read somewhere (might have been on here ages ago) that Ford had also developed a twin cam head to suit that motor - used to be some photos around also - might have to go looking one day to see if I can find them again.

Found this one but it wasn't Ford!!

http://www.ozfalcon.com.au/index.php...-falcon-heads/

nuthin' fancy · 08-05-2015, 01:11 AM

Where else will you find such a rare Ford for $1,200?

The fact that no one is interested is irrelevant.

nuthin' fancy · 08-05-2015, 01:13 AM

Where else will you find such a rare Ford for $1,200?

The fact that no one is interested is irrelevant.

pigglesworth · 08-05-2015, 01:31 AM

Yeah if I had shed space I reckon it'd be a great rarity to have. Probably one of the best (or the best) condition examples of that model if only 800 were made

Ford_The_Win · 08-05-2015, 01:36 AM

I used to have an EA exactly the same - right down to the trim and hub cabs but it was the 3.9 - mine had painted bumper bars (upmarket model...) It actually wasn't that bad to drive and had the most comfortable seats.. I do remember it being an extremely thirsty beast though

pigglesworth · 08-05-2015, 01:41 AM

Yeah my mate had an EA 1 poverty pack just the same, except a 3.9 in manual. Good to drive I reckon, but I mainly remember how loud the bloody thing was, that belt driven fan would roar

malazn mafia · 08-05-2015, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6WGN

Read somewhere (might have been on here ages ago) that Ford had also developed a twin cam head to suit that motor - used to be some photos around also - might have to go looking one day to see if I can find them again.

Found this one but it wasn't Ford!!

http://www.ozfalcon.com.au/index.php...-falcon-heads/

The clever blokes in Geelong had this all working back in 1987. Guess seeing that team Red had nothing to offer in their engine department and were migrating to a low-tech buick v6 in vn and beyond, Ford had no incentive to use this engine in EA. Seems like Ford just pulled the blueprints off the shelf in 1994 with the BBM manifold, and dusted off the cylinder head in 2002 and installed it in BA. Wonder what the 1987 prototype was making, 180kw / 380nm?

XR Martin · 08-05-2015, 07:32 AM

^Krogdahl head was still only two valve - so no relation at all to the BA head.

Windsor220 · 08-05-2015, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

The clever blokes in Geelong had this all working back in 1987. Guess seeing that team Red had nothing to offer in their engine department and were migrating to a low-tech buick v6 in vn and beyond, Ford had no incentive to use this engine in EA. Seems like Ford just pulled the blueprints off the shelf in 1994 with the BBM manifold, and dusted off the cylinder head in 2002 and installed it in BA. Wonder what the 1987 prototype was making, 180kw / 380nm?

image

Probably would have made the V8 even more irrelevant through the 90s.

Kieron · 08-05-2015, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

The clever blokes in Geelong had this all working back in 1987. Guess seeing that team Red had nothing to offer in their engine department and were migrating to a low-tech buick v6 in vn and beyond, Ford had no incentive to use this engine in EA. Seems like Ford just pulled the blueprints off the shelf in 1994 with the BBM manifold, and dusted off the cylinder head in 2002 and installed it in BA. Wonder what the 1987 prototype was making, 180kw / 380nm?

image

From memory, the DOHC was 3.2L and made similar power to the 3.9 so was a more expensive engine with no gain hence it not appearing. I vaguely recall them saying the DOHC on the 3.9 didn't offer any significant increase in power due to its comparatively low revving nature.

Ford had planned to bring out 3 donks, 3.2L CPEFI, 3.9 CPEFI and the 3.9MPEFI. When Holden bought out the VN with the 3.8 MPEFI as standard, Ford were already committed to the 3 engine configs hence the 3.2 seeing the light of day,
I'm guessing at that stage, they had already got tooling for the 3.2 crank/rods etc and possibly even stocks which had to be used and/or cleared.

ie Ford dropped the 3.2 early in the piece due to the VN 3.8 and made the 3.9 CPEFI standard.

There is a B/W pic of the EA DOHC engine in the Ford plant with an engineer, possibly on a dyno floating around.

PS - the REAL collector would be the 3.2 with the centre fold seat and column shift auto, my brother had one as a taxi on gas, you could get out and walk faster!